16 Useful things to do while “stuck” in Traffic

First of all, let’s stop saying, “stuck in traffic,” because what you resist, persists and the truth is traffic is a HUGE opportunity for self-growth and self-love, on many levels: mind, body and spirit.  Therefore, I created a list (please feel free to add!) of mental, physical and spiritual activities, exercises and playful shenanigans you can do while you are in your vehicle, in traffic.  *NOTE: Some of these exercises, like masturbation, may not be suitable if you are carpooling (well, of course, I guess it depends on with whom you carpool!)

1.     Meditate!  Yes, perhaps you should not aim to reach FULL theta state while operating a vehicle, but you could be doing a chakra cleansing, a sound healing, or some calming, energizing or healing chanting while in traffic.  Meditating is exponentially more powerful if you are carpooling and can inspire others to join you!  *If you are chanting, the Goofy Guru highly suggests rolling down the windows and SHARING with other commuters (and no, not everyone is going to appreciate your sharing “Mer-Ka-Ba” but who knows?  If you make one person smile, you did your job and it FEELS good, right?!)

Goofy Guru meditating in the back of a convertible

2.     Learn a new language.   Seriously, without even trying, by just putting on instructional language CDs regularly during your daily commute, you could learn a whole new language in a few months—for FREE! 

3.     Learn something/ANYTHING new!  You can turn your vehicle into your own personal classroom—for FREE!  You can download entire playlists of TED Talks (“ideas worth sharing”); listen to an informative or instructional audio book; teach yourself how to play the harmonica; or even take a FREE online course from top universities!  

4.     Listen to a book.  “Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.” – Stephen King

5.    Do your daily positive affirmations.  Traffic is the perfect setting for doing positive affirmations about abundance, good health, creativity, self-love, or whatever you are seeking to manifest or heal in your life.  *If you search on the internet you can find dozens of FREE downloadable positive affirmations of every flavor; you can also find affirmations on popular “music” stations such as Spotify and Pandora!
 

6.     Do EFT/Tapping.  Just in case you are not familiar with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) --do your own homework!! but— EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture.  But instead of needles, simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on throughout the head and chest.

This combination of tapping the energy meridians while voicing positive affirmations at the same time works to clear any emotional blocks from your body, thus restoring your mind and body balance, which, as you know is essential for optimal health and healing of physical disease.  If you do your homework, you will find that EFT can be used to address ANY issues/concerns/challenges-- from physical ailments to grieving to money problems to attracting more wealth to “letting go” to dealing with rejection, relationships, etc.  *I am a fan of Brad Yates.

7.     Connect with your loved ones.  You can call your mother, grandmother, the best friend from college you only talk to once every 6 months, etc.; traffic is an ideal time to re-connect or catch up with your cherished ones by phone (which is much more “personal” than texting.)

8.    Masturbate!  Yes, and I should not have to explain to you HOW or WHY this is an awesome way to spend your time in traffic!  *See, now you are trying to imagine it…doesn’t THAT make you smile?

9.    Look for messages/guidance.  Whether or not you believe it yet, the Universe is ALWAYS communicating with you—literally, from bill boards to license plates to road signs to animals.  For example, ever keep hearing the same song (or commercial) over and over every time you turn on the radio?  Well, THAT is the Universe trying to communicate with you!  So listen carefully to the lyrics or the commercial and try to HEAR the message for you.   Pay attention to billboards, road signs, shop signs, writing on passing vehicles, etc. that POP OUT at you—this is Source communicating to YOU.  *If you really want to have some fun, ask questions and then look for the answers!

10. Make FUN signs for other commuters.  Brittany and I keep a dozen signs in the car at all times; signs that read: “Smile!” “You are awesome!” “You are CUTE!” and several Dr. Seuss quotes.   We also have a “Thank you!” sign we use when people are being conscious, considerate drivers.  *The best part is that you do not have to limit sign-usage to traffic; we take a few signs with us everywhere…even at museums, when running errands and on the beach!

11.  Create art!  The new “fancy” phones have built-in recording apps (in the old days we used Dictaphones!), so you can record your next poem, song, short story, play, film, letters to colleagues, Nobel Speech, whatever.  At least keep notes on your BRILLIANT ideas that are going to change the world and bring you a lot of abundance!

12.  Massage and stretch.  In my experience, massage is much more enjoyable if you can get your carpool to participate, but you can always massage yourself (with or without massage tools) and do sitting stretches while in traffic. 

13.  Radiate Love Meditation.  Why not use this valuable time to project LOVE energy to all people, places and things?!  Start with yourself, then your family and loved ones, to your neighbors and colleagues, and then send LOVE to your entire town, then state, then country, and so on (and especially the people who “challenge” you!)  Simply spending 10 minutes in a LOVE meditation not only heals YOU, but also raises the GLOBAL FREQUENCY. 

14.  Gratitude Meditation.  If you do not have time to maintain a Gratitude Journal, you can use your time in traffic to acknowledge and honor all the people, places and things you appreciate—from bees to a tax return to the health and well-being of your family.  You can do this Gratitude Meditation in your head, while driving, or make it a little more energetic by doing it opera-style or in a foreign accent (*again, I would suggest rolling down the windows and SHARING!)

15.  Dance!  You can dance if you want to, you can leave your friends behind (in traffic)…and if you are feeling REALLY inspired or goofy, jump out of the car for a quick dance! 

Brittany (aka, The Royal B) dancing during traffic

16.  Daydream!  Probably the MOST effective mind-body-soul exercise you could possibly do during traffic is DAYDREAM (aka, “manifesting”, “creating”, “visualizing”) Through your daydreams and “fantasies”, you are really reminding Source/yourself what you wish to manifest in your life (for further reference, read: “The Law of Attraction by Abraham Hicks”.)  And the best part, if you really FEEL your daydreams, well, they become reality (but don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself!)

Therefore, until we remove “The Traffic Story” completely from collective consciousness and roads, let’s use all this (irreplaceable) time meaningfully to love our selves, expand mentally, physically and spiritually, AND raise the global frequency! *And I welcome more BRILLIANT ideas—please SHARE!

LIVE your bliss,

Goofy Guru (aka, “Kelly N Patterson”)